Children’s sugar intake

Fiona Twycross: Public Health England found that children consume much more sugar than they should do, with some children consuming around 13 cubes or 52g of sugar a day. How does the London Food Strategy help Londoners to consume less sugar?

The Mayor: We have one of the highest child obesity rates in Europe and high sugar consumption is contributing to this issue. Child obesity is twice as high in the poorer parts of our city and the clear link between inequalities in health and wealth affecting a child’s future life chances means we must address this as a priority.
No single policy intervention will solve this problem and that’s why I’m taking a range of actions including banning adverts for less healthy food and drink across the Transport for London estate. This is to reduce children’s exposure to products high in sugar. Other measures I’ve announced in my London Food Strategy include supporting the Sugar Smart and Veg Power campaigns and targeting an increase in Healthy Start vouchers. Furthermore, my Healthy Early Years London programme will complement the work of my London Child Obesity Taskforce to focus on giving children the healthiest possible start in life.
Ultimately this is not a problem that the Mayor of London can fix alone and we need others to act too. I’m calling on local authorities, businesses and community groups to promote healthier food and the government must go further to tackle this issue.

biodiversity in new developments

Nicky Gavron: DEFRA areconsultingon whether small sites, brownfield sites or permitted developments should be excluded from biodiversity net gain requirements. What is your view of such exemptions?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question 2018/0306.

Wood burning stoves (2)

Caroline Russell: With reference to my question 2017/2083, what messages will you include in your air pollution alerts to discourage people from using wood burning stoves in the build-up to and during smog episodes?

The Mayor: The alert messages put out during air quality episodes have been agreed with a number of professional stakeholders, including Public Health England, the London Resilience Forum and the NHS. Any future changes will need to be similarly agreed.
However, as the first full year following the appointment of a new duty forecaster comes to an end in the coming months, I will be reviewing the effectiveness and content of the messaging in association with those stakeholders. This review will provide the first opportunity to consider whether seasonal or pollution specific messages, such encouraging people not to burn solid fuels, can and should be integrated into the wider alerts.

Overseas investment into London’s tech industry

Andrew Dismore: What estimates does your office make of investment from organisations and individuals owned outside the UK into London-based firms operating in the tech / digital sector?

The Mayor: London leads Europe in the volume of investment into the technology sector. In 2018 London-based technology companies received £1.8 billion of venture capital funding, which is more than Paris and Berlin combined.
Beauhurst’s 2018 ‘Investors from Abroad’ report notes that London saw 953 investments involving overseas investors – with the majority going into Fintech, Artificial Intelligence and Advertising Technology (AdTech). Recent analysis from L&P found international investors were increasingly backing London-based companies working with Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain.
Moreover, there were 17 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in UK tech in 2018, equal to the number in France, Germany and Italy combined, and valued at £1.3 billion. This shows that London’s ecosystem is nurturing tech companies from start-up stage right through their growth journey.

Biodiversity (1)

Leonie Cooper: When will the Mayor be responding to the Government’s consultation on biodiversity net gain?

The Mayor: The deadline for responding to the Government’s consultation on biodiversity net gain is Sunday 10th February 2019. I will be submitting a response before that deadline.

Greening Factor (2)

Leonie Cooper: Will you expect each Borough to develop their own Urban Greening Factor (UGF), in compliance with the UGF in the London Plan?

The Mayor: The Draft New London Plan policy on Urban Greening allows boroughs to develop their own Urban Greening Factor tailored to their local circumstances, based on the guidance in the policy. Alternatively, boroughs can adopt the target scores provided in the London Plan policy.
Three planning authorities (Hackney, Islington and the City of London) have already published versions of the UGF in their own draft Local Plans. They have all chosen to adopt the target scores published in the draft new London Plan.

Greening Factor (1)

Leonie Cooper: When will you publish your guidance for Boroughs on how they can implement an Urban Greening Factor, and what will this document contain?

The Mayor: The Urban Greening Factor is included in the Urban Greening policy (G5) in the draft new London Plan, supported by evidence which helps to explain how it works. The new London Plan will be adopted after consideration of the Planning Inspector’s report following Examination in Public.
After the Plan is adopted, GLA officers will work with boroughs to assist with implementation and, if required, further advice may be provided in Supplementary Planning Guidance, for example.
Three planning authorities have already published versions of the UGF in their own draft Local Plans without the need for additional guidance from the GLA.
Boroughs can also seek advice from GLA officers or their own advisors if required.

London Plan

Leonie Cooper: Could the Mayor set out in full what guidance the GLA and Mayors office are providing to local authorities now, in advance of the new London Plan and All-London Green Grid, to increase biodiversity and increase green spaces?

The Mayor: The GLA provides advice to boroughs on a range of issues relating to biodiversity and green infrastructure upon request, including information on the London Plan and the All London Green Grid.
The London Green Infrastructure Focus Map will also be published shortly, providing local authorities with a web-based mapping tool to help them identify where green infrastructure improvements and investments might be best targeted, and what kind of interventions might be most useful in a particular area of a borough.
This year the GLA plans to publish new and updated guidance on Green roofs and walls, conserving priority habitats and species and improving the ecological value of parks and green spaces.
Officers also provide advice on relevant referable planning applications and host or participate in pan-London environmental partnerships and networking events. These include the London Green Infrastructure Partnership, the London Tree and Woodlands Partnership, the London Boroughs Biodiversity Forum, Urban Design London seminars and Future of London network meetings. These provide opportunities for knowledge exchange and sharing good practice on biodiversity and green infrastructure.